There’s a difference in the American dream that I’ve seen coming for a while. It used to be that people wanted to work hard, make money and use the last couple of years of your life to relax and be happy. Over the years I saw that dream diminish to the point where it became, “Get money”. People don’t want to WORK, that’s for suckers. They want to get rich and famous. Since we didn’t have that many celebrities, that seemed difficult; but now, go on a reality TV show once and make money on “personal appearances” for years.
Now this may sound a little hypocritical coming from the guy who wants you to read his blog, listen to his show and buy his shirts. However, I actually want to DO something for the world. I want to make it a better place! I hope that enough people hear me and do good in the world because of me. My dream never actually involves the resting part. I want to do ERNIEandJESSE for as long as I can because it’s fun and feels awesome to have fans. I work at this even though it doesn’t make me any money and that’s much more satisfying than spending all day watching trash TV while cashing in my foodstamps.
The video below is the greatest example of an American dream for an immigrant. Work hard, start a business and get paid…well, in this guy’s case he won the lotto, BUT STILL!!

I think it’s great that we have come to a point in the world where we’re taking advantage of companies and their advertising dollars. I go to a spot I enjoy, I buy whatever product is my favorite and I make sure I have them stamp, swipe, or type in my special card number that gives me benefits. It’s a loyalty program and it helps me get deals and helps the business keep customers or share my spending habits with the people at corporate.

Today, I went to get my mom’s car washed as a nice gesture and I remembered a little too late that this carwash place has a rewards program. Buy 11 car washes and get 1 free. I had a filled out ticket but didn’t ask for the right wash, I guess I’ll just use that on my own car another day. I got a new card with a fresh stamp on it and realized this was the reason I instinctively went to THIS specific car wash instead of the other two in my neighborhood. It wasn’t because of the price (I never pay attention so I don’t know who’s cheaper) or the location (they’re both about 2 min from my house), it was because of the rewards card I had in my pocket.

My dentist is offering a similar package, if I recommend a new client I get free movie tickets, for every visit I have, I log onto their website and get perks like a free toothbrush or floss. I genuinely like my dentist, but for some free movie tickets, I’m more apt to make a suggestion that someone switch. This particular loyalty program has two results. Not only do I get a sense of loyalty towards my dentist because she’s giving me free stuff and all my friends are going there, but it makes something most people find uncomfortable (dentist appointments) something to look forward to.

Then there are the hoards of retailers that give me a deal if I’m a member of their “special club”. Sale prices, free ice cream etc. all because they want to know how a mid 20’s Hispanic male spends his expendable income. This is my favorite mode of deal making. One where everyone wins. They get data and know how to market their products and I get a free burger on my birthday. There are people who don’t like this one. They say, “Why do I want them knowing about my purchases?!” I just laugh it off, because I could care less that Red Robin knows I only go to them once a year, or that CVS knows which brand of hair product I use. The only thing they need to know is if they put the hair stuff farther away from the deodorant, I’m more likely to pass by an isle I didn’t need to be on impulse buying something because it will make my car smell better or is covered in chocolate.

I don’t speak a lot of Spanish. I mean, I can, but my accent is appalling. JESSE has the better accent of the two of us and I started life speaking Spanish only first. In America today English is a MUST and Spanish is useful. I know that I would like any future children I may have to speak Spanish for their own benefit, but see things working out with my kids like they did with me. Growing up in a English first household means you don’t practice, means you don’t retain, means you don’t speak Spanish well. There is one word I’ve found in Spanish though that I cannot get rid of and I will most definitely impart on my kids: Mande!?

Mande is what I was taught to always respond to someone who’s calling you. it’s a sign of respect. It is the proper greeting when being called up, not called on the phone. If someone were to call my name, generally, I would say, “Yes?” However this can be taken incorrectly and in Spanish, just saying “Si?” is not very polite. It’s not IMpolite mind you, but not super polite either.

The reason I want my kids to carry on this tradition is I want them to have a healthy dose of “This is the line, you do not cross it.” Now, I know that sounds silly coming from me as I am one to often find the line and step over it, trying to determine if you’ll move it a little further or smack me for going too far. Even I know that I should mind myself in certain settings and in front of certain people.

So in a few years, my kids will probably not have the same accent as I do when saying the word “tortilla” or forget the word for counter top in English, but they will say, “Mande?” every time I call them. I hope they learn more. I hope they become fluent, I hope they utilize Spanish more than I ever have, but I know that even if I’m not teaching them a language, I’m still teaching them manners.